Mission Statement
Jah Kente International, Inc. (JKI) is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 public supported organization. This status was granted by the United States Internal Revenue (IRS) on March 8, 2000 . Your voluntary financial contribution in support of our mission is a tax exempt gift.
At your invitation, we offer the following services :
The Tiefing Collection: Anexhibition/curatorial presentation featuring
selected articles of a private collection of African and South Pacific artifacts acquired by the curator, Rufus T. Stevenson, during his work and travels in these areas of the world (See website for selected displays, set-designs (including The Concert Hall at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts "The Spirit of Kwanzaa"), banquet-halls and church dress.
Redemption Ritual: A choreographed poetic performance of classical African American poems from the Harlem Renaissance entitled Redemption Ritual: Inviting the Ancestors to be Present. This work includes poetry by Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Robert Hayden, Margaret Walker, Richard Wright, Sterling Allen Brown and James Weldon Johnson (See website's Photo Gallery , Redemption Ritual -Student Cast Scenes, February 2006, Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School ). Produced by Rufus T. Stevenson.
Slave Genealogy: A genealogical presentation demonstrating how you may research your family's history, gain insight, health and strength remembering:
Book by Roland C. Barksdale, President/Co-founder publishes new book The African-American Family's Guide to Tracing Our Roots: Healing, Understanding and Restoring Our Families (see News & Events for more information)
Example Family Newsletter July 2008, download pdf
Press -- July 21, 2008 article "African heritage program set Saturday" from the Eufaula Tribune, Eufaula, AL [ or download ]
Sankofa. Sankofa is an old African Adinkara symbol meaning "look to the past, fetch what is needed and move on." The African-American Family Guide to Tracing Our Roots: Healing, Understanding & Restoring Our Families is available by Roland C. Barksdale-Hall author, lecturer, minister, genealogist and librarian (See website's News and Events) .
The Africa Health Project: This project supports the Sibiry Doumbia Community Memorial Health Center located in the village of Koungodjah , Mali ( West Africa ) with medical equipment and supplies. (See website's Home Page for recent deliveries and grants from Henry Schein, Inc., the global corporate citizenship program of healthcare products and services, and the D.C. Rotary Foundation.)
